Oh This Is Good!

[Fox]

I've recently got hold of a book about pirates printed in 1732. At first I assumed that it was a concise edition of Johnson's General History, the chapter headings are largely the same and much of the text was oddly familiar. BUT upon comparison with my copy of Johnson I noticed lots of small differences. The text is clearly based on Johnson, but it is not the same, and there are odd extra details. As I read the book I will try to post the differences as I find them. For the meantime though, I'll share some of the ilustrations.

This book seems to be the source for some of the commonly reprinted woodcuts of pirates (such as the picture of Avery with his parasol-carrying black slave for example) and no doubt the style of the pictures will be familiar, but there are some I haven't seen before.

The book itself is entitled:

The History and Lives Of all the most Notorious PIRATES and their CREWS,

From Capt. AVERY who first settled at Madagascar, to Capt. John Gow, and James Williams, his Lieutenant, &c, who were hanged at Execution Dock, June 11, 1725, for Piracie and Murther; and afterwards hanged in Chains between Blackwall and Deptford. And in this Edition continued down to the present Year 1732.

Giving a more full and true Account than any yet Published of all their Piracies, Murthers, Maroonings, Places of Refuge and Ways of Living.

The FOURTH EDITION.

Adorned with Twenty Beautiful CUTS, being a Representation of each Pirate.

To which is prefixed, An Abstract of the Laws against Piracy.

LONDON.

Printed for Edw. Midwinter, at the Three Crowns and Looking Glass in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1732. Price 1s.

The pictures!

Thomas Anstis

John Evans

John Gow

Ned Low

George Lowther

John Martel

John Phillips

Francis Spriggs

Richard Worley

[Dorian Lasseter]

Excellent wood cuts...

Am I to assume rightly that John Gow and George Lowther are wearing Plaid?

Looks ta be cut on the diagonal too...

[Fox]

Gow is indeed wearing tartan (plaid is the garment, tartan is the pattern - you yanks never seem to get that!). Gow was an Islander, hence being drawn in highland costume - whether he actually wore it at sea is another question entirely!

I don't think Lowther is in tartan, I think that's just a trick of the woodcut, perhaps just showing a weave. It must also be remembered that not every checked pattern is a tartan, and indeed that tartans can be found in places other than Scotland anyway. Lowther was not AFAIK a Scot, so there's no reason for him to be in tartan partiularly. Having said that, another earlier engraving of him shows him carrying a very Scottish looking sword (which wouldn't mean anything by itself), so maybe they knew something we don't!

[Dorian Lasseter]

Gow is indeed wearing tartan (plaid is the garment, tartan is the pattern - you yanks never seem to get that!). Gow was an Islander, hence being drawn in highland costume - whether he actually wore it at sea is another question entirely!

I 'umbly beg yer forgiveness... My mind ain't all there... well it's less there very early in the mornin'....